China recently established a special agency in its Foreign Ministry to handle land and sea border disputes with neighbouring countries. This is an overdue measure since the disputes, previously dealt with by several departments, are a festering source of tension and potential conflict with other Asian states, especially Southeast Asian nations, India and Japan.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said that the new Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs would develop policies on land and maritime boundaries; guide and co-ordinate external work concerning oceans and seas; and manage land boundary demarcation and joint inspections with neighbouring countries.
The department would also handle external boundary matters and cases involving territories, maps and place names, and engage in diplomatic negotiations on maritime delimitation and joint development.
This mandate, with its emphasis on negotiation and co-operation, sounds promising. But recent developments suggest that China is becoming more assertive in advancing its claims as its ability to enforce them increases, and the strategic and economic value of the assets within the claims rises.
To be fair, China has since 1998 settled at least 11 border disputes with its neighbours, including Russia, Vietnam and Tajikistan. The most recent was the completion of the land border delimitation treaty with Vietnam last December.
But the biggest and most complex land and sea claims remain unresolved, despite years of talks. All relate to the maintenance or recovery of territory that China says was taken by colonial powers when it was weak.
Beijing has made securing maritime rights and power a top national priority.